Life preserver



April 6, 1943. J NQRRED 2,316,101

' LIFE PRESERVER Filed Dec. 17, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JUL/ .772271 Jafin Narrei i atented Apr. 6, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIFE PRESERVER John Non-ed, Chicago, Ill. Application December 17, 1941, Serial No. 423,292

Claims.

The invention relates to life preservers and it consists of a sectional suit of waterproof material which may-be readily placed. about the body of the wearer to protect the wearer against the action and temperature of the water, keeping the wearer's body and clothing warm and dry and also keeping the wearer afloat.

An object ofthe present invention is to provide a novel construction of suit embodying a plurality of sections or pieces having novel connection means between them so as to effectively exclude water from the interior ofthe suit, and which can also be conveniently and quickly put on.

A further object of the invention is the provision of reinforcing rings between the sleeves of the coat and the protective mittens, the trouser leg bottoms and shoes, the bottom of the coat and top of the trousers, and hood and opening in the top of the coat, to provide means to establish substantially leak-proof connections between these sections of the life-saving suit.

A further object of the invention isthe provision of a valve member which is actuated by the inhalation of the wearer to permit the ingress of air and also operated by the exhalation of the wearer to permit such exhaled air to enter the interior of the life-saving suit and maintain a certain degree of heat in the interior of the same, to keep the wearer warm, and which exhaled air also serves to inflate the suit to a certain degree to providelbuoyancy.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of valve means located in the respective mittens of the suit andin the respective hip portions of the trousers which communicate with the bottoms of the respective legs of the trousers by means of communicating tubes. The valves in the mittens and hip portions may be independently operated to permit air to escape and allow the warm air in the interior of the suit to flow to the remote sections to warm the hands or feet of the wearer.

With these and other objects in view, which will become more apparent from the following description, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of the invention, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a life preserver suit, constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing the leakproof connection between the mittens and the sleeves of the suit;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, illustrating the valve construction for of Fig.3;

inhaling air and exhaling air into the interior of the suit;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 her in the mitten 01 the suit;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the waist section of the suit, illustrating the leakproof connection between the coat and trousers of the same;

Fig. 7 is a sectional of Fig. and

Fig. 8 shows a trouser leg partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating the communicating channel between the bottom of the trouser leg and the valve member located in the hip of the trousers.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the life preserver suit embodies a plurality of pieces or sections in which 0 generally designates a coat, T the trousers, a head covering hood or helmet H, gloves G and G, and boots or shoes S and S.

The body or coat C is made of waterproof impregnated material and has in the front side a vertical slot 3 extending from the neck of the view along the line 7-! same to the waist portion so that the coat C can be easily put on or taken off. On each edge of the slot 3, a strip 4 of fabric is provided, each strip carrying one-half of a suitable slide fastener F. The two parts are adapted to be engaged, the one with the other, or disengaged by a slide 6 so that the coat opening can be easily closed or opened. A gore 1 of elastic sheet gum rubber is vulcanized to the inner faces of the respective coat flaps and is for purposes as will presently be described. The trousers T are also made of waterproof material and are provided with a. fly opening 8 provided with a closing member or slide fastener similar to the member fitted to the coat C, and operates by a slide so that the trousers T can be easily put on or taken 01f.

The bottom of the coat G and the waist of the trousers T overlap each other when worn, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, and in order to connect them by a waterproof joint, a two-piece oval-shaped ring ormetallic band B of aluminum or like light material, comprising parts I0 and II, is provided. The section II of the band B is provided with pin members l3, fixed in the respective leg portions H and I5 of the same, which are adaptedto be received in openings IS in the respective leg portions l1 and I8 of the section I0. The sections Ill and II provide means for quickly placing the band B around the waist of the wearer prior to putting on the coat C and trousers T.

The coat C, just above its bottom edge, is provided with an inner facing or skirt ID, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, of elastic gum rubber which is vulcanized to the inner face of the waterproofed coat material. This rubber skirt I9 is provided at its bottom edge with an annular rib 20. This rib 20 is required to be stretched when applied to the metallic band B so that it may pass over the same. This rib 20 fits into an annular groove 2| in the band B, thus effecting a water-tight joint between these engaging parts, and from the above description, it is apparent that the attachment and removal of the coat C from association with the band B is easily and quickly effected.

The trousers T, just below its top waist edge, is also provided with an inner facing or skirt 22, clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. This skirt 22 is made of elastic gum rubber which is vulcanized in position to the inner face of the waterproofed trouser material. This rubber skirt 22 is provided at its top edge with an annular rib 24. This rib 24 is required to be stretched when applied to the waistband B so that it may pass over the band B and be fitted in an annular groove 25 in the same to effect a water-tight joint between the skirt 22 and band B. From the above, it is seen that the attachment and removal of the trousers T from association with the metallic band B is easily and quickly effected.

The respective stretched ribs 20 and 24 of the skirts |9 and 22, fixed to the coat C and trousers T which rest in the respective grooves 2| and 25 in the band B, force the-respective legs |1, N3 of the section l and the respective legs l4 and I tightly together and as these leg ends are rubber-faced, a substantially water-tight joint is provided.

The coat 0 and trousers T, when worn and connected to the band B as above described, place the bottom of the coat 0 in overlapping relation to the upper portion of the trousers T, and this bottom portion of the coat is confined around the trouser waist and band B by means of a belt E, as clearly shown in Figs, 1 and 6.

The coat C is provided with sleeves 26 and 21 to which the detachable mittens or gloves G and G are secured, and as both gloves and sleeves are connected together by means of water-tight joints in a similar manner, a detailed description of one will suffice. The sleeve 26 is provided with an inner cuff 30 of elastic gum rubber which is vulcanized to the inner surface of the sleeve 26, as shown in Fig. 2. The cuff 30 is provided with an annular rib 3| which is required to be stretched when applied to the metallic ring or band 32 so that it may pass over the same and be fitted into the annular groove 33 in the band 32 to effect a water-tight joint between the inner cuff 30 of the sleeve 26 and the band 32.

The mitten or glove G is provided with. an inner cuff 35 of elastic gum rubber which is vulcanized to the inner surface of the wrist portion of the glove G. This cuff 35 is provided with an annular rib 36 which is required to be stretched when applied to the metallic ring or band 31 so that it may pass over the same and be fitted into an annular groove 38 in the band 31 to effect a water-tight joint between the inner cuff 35 of the mitten G and the band 31. A plaited or accordion formed sleeve member 40 of elastic gum rubber is provided to connect the glove G to the sleeve 26. The respective end openings of this sleeve 40 are provided with annular ribs 4| and 42. These ribs 4| and 421 are required to be stretched when applied respectively to the bands 32 and 31 so they may pass over the same and befitted in annular grooves 43 and 44 in the respective bands 32 and 31 to effect a water-tight joint between the sleeve 40 and the said bands. The sleeve 40 provides for a flexible link between the sleeve 26 and glove G to permit free and unrestricted movement of the hands and wrists of the wearer. The end of the sleeve 26 overlies the band 32 and the wrist portion of the glove G overlies the band 31, and they are respectively confined to the bands 32 and 31 by the straps 45 and 46.

The connection between the bottom of the trouser legs 41 and 48 and the boots or shoes S and S are similar to the connections between the sleeve 26 and glove G, just described. Similar metallic bands and elastic gum rubber cuffs are provided in the trouser leg bottoms and the tops of the shoes S and S and cooperate with the bands to form water-tight joints. Plaited or accordion formed sleeves 49 and 50 are also provided, which link the legs of the trousers and shoes, to permit free and unrestricted movement of the ankles and feet of the wearer. The end of the trouser legs overlie the bands associated therewith, and the shoe tops of the shoes S and S also overlie the bands associated therewith, and these overlying ends are confined to their respective hands by the straps 5| and 52.

The connection between the neck of the coat 0 and the helmet or hood H is similar to that of the waist of the coat C and the top of the trousers, as previously described. In this connection, the metallic neckband comprises'a pair of semicircular sections fitted together similar to the band B, to form a substantially circular ring, fitting loosely around the neck of the wearer. The bottom of the helmet H and the neck portion of the coat are provided with elastic gum rubber skirt portions provided with annular ribs which cooperate with grooves in the neckband to form water-tight joints as disclosed in connection with the coat C and trousers T. The bottom of the helmet H is in overlapping relation to the neck portion of the coat 0 and the bottom of the helmet is confined around the neck of the coat and the metallic neckband by: means of a strap 60, as shown. The gore 1, as previously mentioned, is a substantially integral part of the inner skirt in the neck of the coat and the inner skirt in the waist of the coat C to prevent water entering the interior of the coat C, due to leakage through the slide fastener F in the front of the coat C. The skirt 22, in the waist of the trousers, also prevents water entering the interior of the trousers T due to leakage through the fastener F in the same.

The helmet H is provided at the front with a pair of observation windows 6| and 62 at the height of the eyes and is also provided with an air valve V, the construction and purpose of which will now be described.

The valve V, clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, comprises a cylindrical member or tube 10 provided with an annular flange 1| to permit the same to be cemented to the hood H by suitable valve stem 13 by a nut 18, and normally maintains the plunger 15 against the stop 19. A slot 99 in the tube I0, located to the rear of the plunger 15, is normally covered by a rubber flap or tab 9|, one end of which is secured to the tube 10 in any suitable manner as by means of cement or other fastening means. A semi-circular band 82, slightly wider than the slot 99, covers the rubber tab 8| and is spring pressed against the same by means of the diametrically oppositely disposed springs 83 and. 84, which are secured between the laterally extending arms 95 and 86 of the band 92 and laterally extending arms 88 and 89 of a band 91 fixed to the bottom of the tube 10. A mouthpiece 99, secured to the tube 10, is provided which may be inserted in the mouth of the wearer of the life preserver suit.

The inhalation of air through the tube 90 by the person wearing the suit causes the plunger I5 to be moved rearwardly against the tension of the spring 19, as is readily apparent due to such inhalation of air. The passage of air into the tube 19 passes through the openings 9| in the collar 12 and through the central opening 92 in the stop I9. The rearward movement of the plunger 15, due to the inhalation of air, is limited by the stop 93 positioned in the rear of the tube 19. When the plunger 15 is thus positioned, the air is permitted to pass through the passage now formed by the plunger 15 and slot" in the tube 19, into the tube 99. When the wearer exhales, the air forces the plunger 15 forward aided by the compressed spring 16. The exhaled air cannot passthe plunger 15 and,'in consequence, acts against the spring-pressed tab 9| to force the same away from the slot opening 80 against the tension of the springs 93 and 84 which normally maintains the tab 9| over the slot 80. The uncovered slot 89 now permits the exhaled air to enter the life preserving suit. The continued exhalation of air into the suit, as the wearer breathes, inflates the suit and this inflation takes place before entering the water to provide the necessary buoyancy to keep the wearer afloat.

The air exhaled by the wearer is substantially that of body temperature when it enters the suit and thus provides a degree of warmth to the wearer of the suit.

The extremities of the body, such as the hands of the person wearing thesuit, may become cold but means are, however, provided to permit the escape of warm air through valve devices D located in the palms of the mittens G and G. The manual manipulation of either valve permits the escape of air through such manipulated valve, and the warm air from the body portion of the suit passes down the sleeve to warm the hand.

The valve structure D, shown in Fig. 5, is similar to that of the well-known tirevalve, and, as such structure is well known, a brief description of the valve, shown in Fig. 5 will now be given. The tubular member 94 is provided with an annular flange 95 to permit the valve structure to be cemented to the glove fabric to provide a water-tight joint. A valve seat 96. secured in the member 94, is engaged by the valve stop 91 secured to one end of the valve stem 99. This valve stop 91 is normally positioned against the opening in the valve seat 96 by means of a coil spring 99 surrounding the valve stem 99 to prevent the escape of air. To permit the escape of air, the trigger disk I99, secured to the valve stem 99, is forced down against the tension of the spring 99 and, thus, movement of the stem 98 unseatsthe valve stop 91 and warm air in the interior of the suit may now pass through the tube member 94 and escape through the opening in the valve seat 96 and opening around the valve stem 98. The circulation of air past the hand due to its escapement through the operated valve member D warms the hand to prevent-discomfort from cold. The release of pressure on the disk I99 permits the stop 91 to again seat itself against the seat 99 under the tension of the spring 99 to close the opening therein and shut oif further escapement of air.

Valves D are also located in the trousers T of the suit at hips of the same and communicate with the shoesS and S of the suit by means of ducts III (a clearly illustrated in Fig. 8) which are cemented to the interior of each trouser leg. The upper end of the duct Ifll encloses the inner end of the valve structure and the opposite end of the duct I is open and terminates at the end of the trouser leg 49. Now, when the valve is operated, air escapes through the valve opening, but this escaping air must pass through the communicating duct Nil before reaching the operated valve, and this circulated air warms the foot of the wearer.

From the above, it is apparent that the body extremities, such as the hands and feet, may be warmed by the manipulation of the valve devices D, and the exhalation of air in the suit provides means whereby the wearer of the life preserver suit may be kept comparatively comfortable while in the water.

While the invention has been described as a life preserver suit, it is to be understood that the suit may also be used in arctic regions as a protective garment or as a hunting suit. Minor changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. Particularly, it is contemplated that the valves provided to void air from the suit may be made to operate automatically responsive to a certain predetermined air pressure in said suit.

What is claimed is:

1. In a waterproof protective garment comprising an upper section and a lower section. the opposed edges of which are arranged to be united to provide a waterproof covering for the wearer, and means for detachably uniting said sections, said means comprising a ring of rela tively gid material adapted to be placed about the body of the wearer and elastic bands at the opposed edges of said sections, respectively, stretched about and snugly engaging the outer surface of said ring.

2. In a waterproof protective garment comprising an upper section and a lower section, the opposed edges of which are arranged to be united to provide a waterproof covering for the wearer, and means for detachably uniting said sections, said means comprising a ring consisting of detachable sections of relatively rigid material adaptedto be placed about the body of the wearer and elastic bands at the opposed edges of said sections, respectively, stretched about and snugly engaging the outer surface of said ring.

3. In a waterproof protective garment comprising a coat section carrying a headpiece and a trouser section, and means for detachably uniting the opposed edges of said sections, said means comprising a ring of relatively rigid material adapted to be placed about the body of the wearer, elastic band; at the opposed-edges of said ference of said ring being provided adjacent its remote edges, respectively, with grooves, elastic bands at the opposed edges of said sections, re-

spectively, stretched about and snugly engaging the outer surface of said ring within the said grooves at the opposite edges of said ring, respectively, to retain said elastic bands in position thereon.

5. In a device of the class described, a waterproof and substantially air-tight suit capable of receiving the person of'the wearer, a tube fixed with and extending through said suit adjacent to the mouth of the wearer, and a valve in said tube arranged to permit air to be drawn therethrough by the inhaling action of the wearer but preventing the passage of air outwardly therethrough, and valves in said suit arranged to void the air from the extremities of said suit.

6. In a device of the class described, a water- I proof and substantially air-tight suit capable of receiving the person of the wearer, a tube fixed with and extending through said suit adjacent to the mouth of the wearer, a valve in said tube arranged to permit air to be drawn therethrough by the inhaling action of the wearer but prevent-' ing the passage of air outwardly therethrough, and manually operated valves in said suit arranged to void the air from the extremities of said suit.

7. In a device of the class described, a waterproof and substantially air-tight suit capable of receiving the person of the wearer, a tube fixed with and extending through said suit adjacent to the mouth of the wearer, a valve in said tube arranged to permit air to be drawn therethrough by the inhaling action of the wearer but preventing the passage of air outwardly therethrough, and manually operated valves in said suit, one for each limb extension thereof, arranged to void the air from the extremities, respectively, of said suit.

8. In a device of the class described, a waterproof and substantially air-tight envelope capable of receiving the person of the wearer, a tube fixed with and extending through said envelope adjacent to the mouth of the wearer, and a valve in said tube arranged to permit air to be drawn therethrough by the inhaling action of the wearer but preventing the passage of air outwardly therethrough.

9. In a device'of the class described, a water-,

proof and substantially air-tight envelope capable of receiving the person of thewearer, a tube fixed with and extending through said envelope adjacent to the mouth of the wearer, a valve in said tube arranged to permit air to be drawn therethrough by the inhaling action of the wearer but preventing the passage of air outwardly therethrough and a valve in said envelope remote from said tube to permit the escape of air from said envelope.

10. In a device ofthe class described, a waterproof and substantially air-tight envelope capable of receiving the person of the wearer, a tube fixed with and extending through said envelope adr the mouth of the wearer, a valve in said tube arranged to permit air to be drawn therethrough by the inhaling action of the wearer but preventing the passage of air outwardly therethrough and a valve in said suit remote from said tube, adjacent to the hand portion thereof and operable by the hand of the wearer arranged to permit the escape of air therefrom.

12. In a device of the class described, a waterproof and substantially air-tight suit capable of receiving the person of the wearer, a. tube fixed with and extending through said suit adjacent to the mouth of the wearer, a valve in said tube arranged to permit air to be drawn therethrough by the inhaling action of the wearer but preventing the passage of air outwardly therethrough and valves in said suit adjacent to the hand portion thereof, respectively, and operable by the hands of the wearer arranged to permit the escape of air therefrom.

13. In a device of the class described, a waterproof and substantially air-tight suit capable of receiving the person of th wearer, a tube fixed with and extending through said suit adjacent to the mouth of the wearer, a valve in said tube arranged to permit air to be drawn therethrough by the inhaling action of the wearer but preventing the passage of air outwardly therethrough, a valve in said suit adjacent to the hip part thereof and operable by the hand of the wearer and a tube communicating with said valve at one end thereof the other end of said tube terminating adjacent to a foot portion of said suit.

14. In a device of the class described, a waterproof and substantially air-tight suit capable of receiving the person of the wearer, a tube fixed with and extending through said suit adjacent to the mouth of the wearer, a valve in said tube arranged to permit air to be drawn therethrough by the inhaling action of the wearer but preventing the passage of air outwardly therethrough, valves in said suit adjacent to the hip parts thereof, respectively, and operable by the hands of the wearer, and tubes, each communicating with one of said valves at one end thereof, the other end of each said tube terminating adjacent to a foot portion of said suit.

15. In a device of the class described, a waterproof and substantially air-tight suit capable of receiving the person of the wearer, a tube fixed with and extending through said suit adjacent to the mouth of the wearer, a valve in said tube arranged to permit airto be drawn therethrough by the inhaling action of the wearer but preventing the passage of air outwardly therethrough, and manually operable valves in said suit, one for each arm andeach leg portion of said suit, arranged upon opening thereof to permit the escape of air from its respective arm or leg portion of said suit.

JOHN NORRED. 

